A CRIMINAL who tried to sell an historic chain of office belonging to Wisbech Business and Professional Men s Club has failed in a bid to have his 15-month jail term reduced. Oscar Beitans was caught red handed by police as he tried to sell the stolen cha

A CRIMINAL who tried to sell an historic chain of office belonging to Wisbech Business and Professional Men's Club has failed in a bid to have his 15-month jail term reduced.

Oscar Beitans was caught red handed by police as he tried to sell the stolen chain at a second hand shop on January 20.

The distinctive chain, engraved with all the names of club chairmen, was part of a �5,000 haul stolen from a safe at a Wisbech home just days earlier.

Beitans, 22, of St Peter's Road, Wisbech, had claimed to have bought the chain from a man in the street for �10, and gave a false name to police.

Back in March, Beitans was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court, after admitting handling stolen goods.

On Tuesday, Beitans' lawyers challenged his 15 month sentence, but their arguments were dismissed by Lord Justice Goldring, sitting with Mr Justice Bean and Judge Michael Mettyear QC

Lord Justice Goldring said: "In the circumstances, a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment, although necessarily substantial, cannot be argued to be manifestly excessive, even with an early guilty plea."

Former club secretary Peter Dennis said the club had been very grateful to get the chain back.